Vertically adjustable motor mount for outboard motors



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 U H M} 3 {R N 4 2 /0 R K (A Q m I4 I! A I 1- Z n6 k a 37 m m m 5 6 M w a 34 RNA G. J. CURTIS VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE MOTOR MOUNT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed July 5, 1955 Dec. 10, 1957 a. J. CURTIS 2,815,731

I VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE MOTOR MOUNT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS 'Filed July 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gera/a z/ (a/"far INVENTOR.

VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE MOTOR MGUNT FOR OUTBOARD MQTORS Gerald J. Curtis, Houston, Tex.

Application July 5, 1955, Serial No. 519,948 Claims. c1. 115-41 This invention relates to a vertically adjustable motor mount for outboard motors and more particularly to a device designed to be applied to a boat for the attachment of an outboard motor thereto and including means whereby the position of the motor may be adjusted vertically relative to the boat.

This application is a continuation-in-part of a copending application filed by the same applicant on March 3, 1954, under Serial No. 413,843, new Patent No. 2,775,219.

In the use of outboard motors for propelling boats in the manner heretofore commonly practiced means is provided for attaching the motor to the transom of the boat with the propeller extending into the water, and in most instances the propeller is positioned a substantial distance below the bottom of the boat, so that there is danger that damage may be caused by engagement of the equipment with under water obstructions, or by coming in contact with the bottom in the event that the boat should be operated in very shallow water.

Various means have been proposed, heretofore, for preventing such damage, such as by the provision of mounting means by which the motor may be tilted or swung in a direction to move the propeller upwardly upon encountering an obstruction. Such means, however, do not permit the motor to be operated while the propeller is in an elevated position to propel the boat when in shallow water, and no completely satisfactory means has been available heretofore which could be used with any conventional type of outboard motor whereby the depth of the propeller in the water could be adjusted as desired without changing the angle of the propeller relative to the boat.

The present invention has for its chief object the provision of means for overcoming the above noted objections in connection with the use of outboard motors, whereby any conventional type of outboard motor can be quickly and easily attached to a boat and by which the vertical position of the propeller relative to the bottom of the boat can be adjusted in any desired manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a motor mount for outboard motors which may be attached to the transom of a boat in a manner to permit the position of the same to be adjusted relative to the bottom of the boat, and upon which an outboard motor may be clamped.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable motor mount including a motor supporting bracket which may be positioned over the transom of a boat for vertical sliding movement thereon, and having pressure fluid operable means for adjusting the vertical position of the bracket, whereby the position of the propeller relative to the bottom of the boat may be adjusted.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for adjusting the vertical position of a motor rela- Patent 0 wardly for attachment at its upper end to the correspond;

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tive to the bottom of a boat and by which the motor is securely retained in any desired position of adjustment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hydraulically operated motor mount of the kind referred to having fluid pumping means for supplying hydraulic fluid thereto to raise the motor vertically and maintain the same at any desired position of elevation relative to the boat, and which also embodies means for initiating and controlling the return of the motor to a lowered position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a motor mount for outboard motors which is of simple design and rugged construction, capable of withstanding the hard usage and extreme conditions of exposure to which equipment of this character is customarily subjected, which is easily operated, and by which a motor may be securely held in any desired position of adjustment.

The above and other important objects and advantages of the invention will best be understood from the following detailed description, constituting a specification of the same, when considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly diagrammatic and partly in cross-section, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and showing the same in position on a boat;

- Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partly in cross-section, of the invention, showing the motor mounting bracket and its associated hydraulic pressure cylinders;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, vertical, central, cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing details oftconstruction of the fluid pumping mechanism of the invention and the valve mechanism of the same;

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the invention as illustrated in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in cross-section showing a somewhat modified form of,

the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the invention is illustrated in connection with its application to a boat of conventional construction, having a bottom 10, and a transom 12, at the stern, to which the motor mount of the invention is attached. The motor mount of the invention includes a bracket 14, of generally U- shape in cross-section, of a size to form a secure support for a conventional outboard motor when the motor is clamped on the bracket, and having an outer, elongated, vertically extending wall portion 16, adapted to lie along the outer face of the transom 12, the bracket being positioned over the upper edge of the transom for vertical sliding movement thereon. The bracket is preferably formed with spaced reinforcing flanges 18, which extend outwardly therefrom, substantially at right angles to the outer wall 16 and top wall 20 of the bracket, the flanges terminating inwardly of the top wall 20 in downwardly extending, generally cylindrically shaped enlargements or lugs 22, each of which has a downwardly opening bore 23 for a purpose later to be made apparent. The bracket is also provided with an inner vertical wall portion 24, extending downwardly between the enlargements 22.

Spaced, vertically positioned pressure cylinders 32 and 33, are attached to the inner face of the transom 12' beneath the enlargements 22 of the bracket, each of these cylinders being preferably provided with external perforated lugs 34, through which suitable fastening means such as the bolts 36 may extend to secure the cylinder to the transom. Each of the cylinders 32 and 33 is provided at its upper end with a bushing 38, threadably attached thereto, through which a piston 40 extends up- Patented Dec. 10, 1957 ing enlargement 22 of the bracket, the piston 48 being I which screws 43' carried by the enlargement are extended to rotatably' secure the piston to the mounting bracket.

Each piston 40 may conveniently be provided with an external annular groove 44, within-which suitable pack ing means, such as an O-ring is located to form a fluid tight seal between the inner wall of the cylinder and the piston. The bushing 38 may also be provided with an internal annular groove 48, within which packing means such as an O-ring is located, whereby a seal is formed between the bushing and the piston 40 to prevent the entrance of water or foreign matter into the upper end of the cylinder. The cylinder 32 has an inlet connection 49- at its'lower end, which is connected in communication with a pressure fluid supply pipe 52, and the cylinder 33 has a similar inlet connection 50 connected in communication with the cylinder 32 by a pipe 53. A fluid return pipe 55 is connected in communication with the cylinder 32 at a point spaced above the inlet connection 49, and the cylinder 33 is likewise connected in communication with the return pipe 55 by a pipe 57, whereby fluid entering the cylinders will be permitted to escape therefrom through the return pipe when the pistons reach their uppermost positions in the cylinders.

It will be apparent that by the application of pressure fluid to the lower ends of the cylinders, through the supply pipe 52, such fluid will move the pistons 40 upwardly in the cylinders, thus raising the bracket 14 to any desired height relative to the bottom of the boat, until the pistons reach the upper limit of their movement in the cylinders. Should the pressure of the fluid in the cylinders be raised beyond the pressure necessary to lift the bracket 14 and the motor attached thereto, such fluid may escape through the outlets return pipe 55, when the pistons reach the upper limit of their movement in the cylinders, so that damage to the mechanism such as might be caused by the application of excessive fluid pressure to the cylinders will be prevented.

Pressure fluid means is provided for supplying the cylinders with pressure fluid for operation of the device, which means may conveniently take the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, wherein a pump cylinder 56 is shown, inwhich a piston 58 is movably disposed, which is adapted to be operated in any convenient manner, as by means of an operating lever 62, pivotally supported at its lower end on a pivoted link, as indicated at 64, and pivotally attached mediate its ends to the outer end of the piston rod. The pump cylinder 56 carries a cylinder head 66, threadably attached thereto, and which is fitted into an opening 68 in a screw cap 70 adapted to be attached to .a fluid supply receptacle 72, such as a plastic bottle or the like.

The cylinder head 66 is provided with an inlet passageway 74, which is connected in communication with the interior of the receptacle 72 by a tube 75 whose lower end extends downwardly beneath the level of fluid in the receptacle. The passageway 74 has an enlarged counterbore portion 76 in which a valve 78 is movable, the bottom of the counterbore forming an annular valve seat 80 with which the valve is engageable to close the inlet passageway. A discharge passageway 82 is also formed in the head 66, which has a counterbore portion 84 for the reception of a valve 86 movably positioned therein. The bottom of the counterbore 84 forms an annular valve seat 88 with which the valve 86 is engageable to close the outlet passageway. A return passageway 90 is also provided in the cap 70, leading into the interior of the receptacle 72 and with which the return pipe 55 is connected.

Within the pump cylinder 56 a valve actuating lever or cam 92 is pivotally supported mediate its ends .in position to be engaged by the pump piston 58 to rotate the lever in -a counter clockwise direction upon movement of the piston toward the cylinder head. The lever 92 has an end portion 94 which is engageable with the discharge valve 86 upon counter clockwise rotation of the lever to move the discharge valve toward open position, and is provided with a notch 96 at its other end. The inlet valve 78 is formed with a neck portion 98 which extends through the notch 96 and is provided with a head 100 positioned for engagement with the lever to move the inlet valve toward open position upon counterclockwise rotation of the lever.

A screw 102 is threaded into an opening in the head 66 and extends into the counterbore 84 to prevent the valve 86 from moving out of the counterbore.

Piston 58 is provided with an external annular groove 104 in which suitable packing such as an O-ring 106 is disposed to form a fluid tight seal between the piston and the interior of the pump cylinder.

In the operation of the invention, constructed as described above, the receptacle 72 is filled with a suitable pressure fluid, such as water, and the pump piston 58 is reciprocated by the lever 62 to pump the fluid from the receptacle 72 to the cylinders 32 and 33 through supply pipe 52 and pipe 53, to elevate the pistons 40 and raise the bracket 14. It will be apparent that upon movement of the piston 58 away from the head 66 valve 86 will be closed and valve 78 will open to permit the inflow of fluid from receptacle 72 into the pump cylinder. Upon movement of the pump piston toward the head 66 the valve 76 will be closed under the influence of the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder and the valve 86 will be opened to permit the fluid to flow to the cylinders 32 and 33 through supply pipe 55. When the bracket 14 has been thus elevated to the desired point relative to the boat, the operation of the pump is discontinued, and the piston 58 positioned out of contact with the lever 92, whereupon the valves 78 and 86 will be closed and the pressure within the cylinders 32 and 33 will be maintained to hold the bracket in elevated position.

Should the pistons 40 be raised above the connections of the return pipe 55 and the pipe 57, fluid may then flow from the cylinders back into the receptacle 72, and the upward movement of the pistons is arrested, thus limiting the amount of upward movement of the bracket 14. It will also be noted that the pressure fluid system as thus constructed and operated is completely closed, so that there is no loss of fluid in its operation.

When it is desired to release the pressure from the cylinders 32 and 33 to permit the bracket 14 to move downwardly, the lever 62 is operated to move the pump piston 58 into contact with lever 92 to rotate the lever in a direction to open the valves 78 and 86, whereupon fluid may flow from pistons 32 and 33 back through supply pipe 52 into the receptacle 72. Thus, by merely pushing inwardly on the lever 62 the bracket is permitted to move downwardly and such movement may be arrested at any desired point by again moving the lever slightly outwardly to permit valves 78 and 86 to close. In this manner the pump piston performs the function of pumping the fluid and also acts as a valve control means to control the downward movement of the bracket.

A somewhat modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figure 5, wherein the bracket 14 takes the form of a conventional clamp type motor mounting bracket which is modified to provide cylindrical shaped enlargements or lugs 22' similar to the lugs 22 of the previously described form of the invention and for a like purpose. In this modification of the invention each of the lugs 22 has a bore 23' similar to the bore 23 previously described into which one of the pistons 40 is extended at its upper end and secured to the lug in the same manner as previously described. The lugs 22' are also provided with internally threaded through openings, such as that indicated at 108, through which suitable screws 110 may be threadably extended, whereby the bracket 14' may be clamped to the transom 12 if desired when the device is to be used without vertical adjustment.

The bracket 14 constructed as hereinabove described is adapted to be used with the hydraulic lifting mechanism described in connection with the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and in other respects is constructed and operated in the same manner as the previously described form of the invention.

It will thus be seen that the invention, constructed as described above, provides a vertically adjustable motor mount mechanism for a boat, which is of simple design, and economical manufacture, and which is easily operated to position the motor at any desired elevation relative to the bottom of the boat, so that the boat may be quickly placed in condition for operation in shallow water, or to avoid contact of the propeller with a submerged obstruction.

The invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certain specific embodiments of the same, but it will be understood that this is intended by way of illustration only, and that numerous changes can be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with motor mount mechanism for outboard motors including a motor supporting member positioned on the transom of a boat for vertical movement thereon and pressure fluid operable means mounted on said transom and having an operating connection with said member to raise and lower the member, of fluid pumping means for supplying fluid under pressure to said pressure fluid operable means comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a cylinder head on one end of the cylinder and having an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway in communication with the interior of the cylinder, means connecting the inlet passageway in communication with a source of fluid, means connecting the outlet passageway in communication with said pressure fluid operable means, valves in said passageways extending into said cylinder and movable to one position to establish fluid flow communication between said passageways and to another position to close the passageways against such communication, and means in the cylinder positioned to coact with said valves and said piston upon movement of the piston to the limit of its movement toward the head to move the valves toward said one position.

2. The combination with motor mount mechanism for outboard motors including a motor supporting member positioned on the transom of a boat for vertical movement thereon and pressure fluid operable means mounted on said transom and having an operating connection with said member to raise and lower the member, of fluid pumping means for supplying fluid under pressure to said pressure fluid operable means comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a cylinder head on one end of the cylinder and having an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway in communication with the interior of the cylinder, means connecting the inlet passageway in communication with a source of fluid, means connecting the outlet passageway in communication with said pressure fluid operable means, valves in said passageways extending into said cylinder and movable to one position to establish fluid flow communication between said passageways and to another position to close the passageways against such communication, and means in the cylinder positioned to coact with said valves and said piston when said piston reaches the limit of its movement toward said head to move the valves toward said one position.

3. The combination with motor mount mechanism for outboard motors including a motor supporting member positioned on the transom of a boat for vertical movement thereon and pressure fluid operable means mounted on said transom and having an operating connection with said member to raise and lower the member, of fluid pumping means for supplying fluid under pressure to said pressure fluid operable means comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a cylinder head on one end of the cylinder and having an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway in communication with the interior of the cylinder, means connecting the inlet passageway in communication with a source of fluid, means connecting the outlet passageway in communication with said pressure fluid operable means, an inlet valve movably positioned in said inlet passageway and a discharge valve movably positioned in said outlet passageway, said valves extending into the cylinder and being movable to open positions to establish fluid flow communication from said pressure fluid operable means to said source through said passageways and to closed positions to close the passageways against such communication, and means in the cylinder positioned to coact with said valves and said piston when the piston reaches the limit of its movement toward the head to move the valves to said open positions.

4. The combination with motor mount mechanism for outboard motors including a motor supporting member positioned on the transom of a boat for vertical movement thereon and pressure fluid operable means mounted on said transom and having an operating connection with said member to raise and lower the member, of fluid pumping means for supplying fluid under pressure to said pressure fluid operable means comprising a cylinder, a pistorrmovable in the cylinder, a cylinder head on one end of the cylinder and having an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway in communication with the interior of the cylinder, means connecting the inlet passageway in communication with a source of fluid, means connecting the outlet passageway in communication with said pressure fluid operable means, an inlet valve movably positioned in the inlet passageway and extending into the cylinder and movable to an open position under the influence of a decrease in the pressure of fluid in the cylinder upon movement of the piston away from the head to admit fluid from said source to said cylinder and to a closed position under the influence of an increase in the pressure of fluid in the cylinder upon movement of the piston toward the head to close the inlet passageway, a discharge valve movably positioned in said outlet passageway and movable to an open position under the influence of such increase in the pressure of fluid in the cylinder to permit the flow of fluid from the cylinder to said pressure fluid operable means and to a closed position under the influence of such decrease in the pressure of fluid in the cylinder to close the outlet passageway, and means in the cylinder positioned to coact with said valves and said piston when the piston reaches the limit of its movement toward the head to move said valves toward said open positions.

5. The combination with motor mount mechanism for outboard motors including a motor supporting member positioned on the transom of a boat for vertical movement thereon and pressure fluid operable means mounted on said transom and having an operating connection with said member to raise and lower the member, of fluid pumping means for supplying fluid under pressure to said pressure fluid operable means comprising a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a cylinder head on one end of the cylinder and having an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway in communication with the interior of the cylinder, means connecting the inlet passageway in communication with a source of fluid, means connecting the outlet passageway in communication with said pressure fluid operable means, an inlet valve movably positioned in said inlet passageway and a discharge valve movably positioned in said outlet passageway, said valves extending into the cylinder and being movable to open positions to establish fluid flow communication from said pressure fluid operable means to said source and to closed positions to close the passageways against such communication and a valve actuating member pivotally mounted in said cylinder and having portions positioned for engagement with said valves upon rotation of said member in one direction to move said valves toward said open positions said member being positioned for coaction with said piston upon movement of the piston to the limit of its movement toward said head to rotate the member in said one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nelson Mar. 2, 1909 Brumder Apr. 22, 1941 Nilson Aug. 26, 1941 Kiekhaefer Apr. 6, 1954 Plouff July 26, 1955 

